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Hawker training programme so popular it had to be suspended

"My friends thought that I wouldn’t be able to stand the heat and stand for long hours, but I always wanted to open a stall selling laksa because it is my favourite dish." - Miss Joey Teo (above)TNP PHOTO: ISKANDAR ROSSALI

"My friends thought that I wouldn’t be able to stand the heat and stand for long hours, but I always wanted to open a stall selling laksa because it is my favourite dish." - Miss Joey Teo (above)TNP PHOTOS: ISKANDAR ROSSALI

Entrepreneurship programme for hawkers popular with diploma holders, grads

The selection process is stringent. Factors considered include personality and attitude, said Mr Tan.

"We also made sure that they are aware that (being a hawker involves) a lot of manual work and that the hours are long," he added.

Last month, the programme received the National Trades Union Congress May Day Partnership Award for supporting skills upgrading in the workplace and building a strong partnership with the labour movement.

Under Fei Siong's programme, workers are paid a monthly salary of $3,000 for the first three months before they start their own stalls. If they do not start a stall, they have the option of being deployed to other roles within Fei Siong.

The company owns eateries and foodcourts in shopping malls, including Tangs Market in Tangs Orchard, Malaysia Boleh! foodcourt in Jurong Point and the Eat chain of noodle shops.

One of the hawkers in the entrepreneurship programme is Miss Joey Teo, 27, a former logistics assistant. She is now selling satay beehoon and laksa at Ci Yuan Hawker Centre. (See report at right.)

Fei Siong's entrepreneurship programme is aimed at preserving local hawker food, especially among the younger generation, and Mr Tan hopes to expand the programme to new hawker centres.

The demand for hawker training is likely to grow, especially given the Government's plans for 20 new hawker centres by 2027.

REVIEW

In April, the National Environment Agency announced a committee to review hawker centres and the hawker trade in Singapore.

The committee, which will submit its recommendations by next year, will be proposing ideas to safeguard hawker heritage and attract and support those who wish to enter the hawker trade, such as by having structured training programmes.

Mr Koh Seng Choon, executive director of social enterprise Project Dignity, thinks there will be greater interest in hawker training.

Since 2012, 3,000 people have been trained to be hawkerpreneurs or have taken modular courses by Project Dignity, said Mr Koh.

These courses are recognised by the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications and are subsidised for Singaporeans and PRs.

People who joined the courses include existing hawkers and mid-career individuals who are new to the business, said Mr Koh.

Besides running a stall at hawker centres, they have the option of working in school canteens, industrial parks and foodcourts.

He said: "You won't be a millionaire (if you run a stall), but you can earn a reasonable income."

BY THE NUMBERS

$3,000 Under Fei Siong's programme, workers are paid a monthly salary of $3,000 for the first three months before they start their own stalls.

We also made sure that they are aware that (being a hawker involves) a lot of manual work and that the hours are long.